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UPDATE: Officials say the soldier, who has not been identified, died Friday afternoon during a skydiving training exercise.



SHELTON, Wash. -- A large search and rescue operation is underway in Mason County to find a soldier who went missing Friday morning during a skydiving training exercise.



The soldier, who has not been identified, is part of a special forces unit based at Joint Base Lewis McChord, according to Major Tim Chavez.



Members of the unit were doing air drop training at about 11 a.m. when the soldier was forced to deploy his reserve chute somewhere over Mason County.



The rest of the team didn't see where the soldier landed, and they've been searching for him ever since.



Mason County deputies, along with Fish and Wildlife personnel, tribal officials and members of the military, have formed a search party near the Little Creek Casino in Shelton.



"We've got approximately 110 people out there searching right now with lots and lots of resources," said Ryan Spurling with the Mason County Sheriff's Office.



Spurling said the search area is roughly six miles in diameter with what he called "rough terrain" that includes heavily forested areas and swampland.



"We also have quite a few dog teams here that are out searching but it's a rather large area to search," he said.